Venton Blandin

Venton Blandin, a two-time Emmy-nominated reporter, joined WHNT News 19 in January 2009 after reporting in Charleston, South Carolina. He leads the station’s ‘Fighting for You’ team.

Venton was born in Chicago, Illinois and became interested in television news as a child after watching Chicago’s WMAQ-TV cover a shooting in his neighborhood in 1992. He spent a lot of time as a child chasing trucks from all the Chicago stations, riding the ‘L’ after school to visit the stations and attending tapings of TV shows based in Chicago. Venton spent an ‘unhealthy’ amount of time hanging out inside the NBC Chicago newsroom. A few of the anchors there saw something and gave him a chance. Venton’s passion for news grew after an internship at WYFF-TV in Greenville, SC a year later. He was eventually able to work behind the scenes in the newsroom and production offices during his high school years.

Venton joined the United States Marine Corps in 1998 and has done tours in Australia, Japan, Korea, Thailand and in the Philippines before receiving an “honorable discharge” as a Corporal. He attended Bowie State University, while continuing to work in television, after getting out of the military.

Venton has worked as a reporter at WCIV-TV in Charleston, SC. He broke the national story of two Florida college students traveling through the Charleston with bomb-making materials. Venton did hourly LIVE reports on the story for CNN for two days.

Venton reported for more than two years at WCAV-TV in Charlottesville, VA. He also has worked as an assignment editor at WRC-TV in Washington, DC. Venton was able to play a big part in news-gathering during the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Venton spent three years working at WBAL-TV in Baltimore, MD as an assignment editor. He was a big part of Beltway Sniper Attacks coverage in our nation’s Capital region.

Venton spent his first three years at WHNT NEWS 19 reporting LIVE during the 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm newscasts. You can now see his ‘Fighting for You’ reports during the 5:00 pm newscast Monday through Friday.

The Midsouth Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in Nashville has honored Venton with two Emmy nominations. One nomination was for the story he broke on an accused killer’s escape from Madison County to Dallas, TX. The other was for his story about a Decatur soldier killed while serving our country in Afghanistan.

Venton is the oldest of six children, enjoys spending time with his family and friends, going to church, volunteering, listening and playing music, playing some sports, dancing, attending comedy shows, flying in helicopters, riding roller coasters, acting and speaking to groups.

Venton is a member of True Light Church of God In Christ where he works with a couple of ministries. He serves as a board member for Madison County’s Court Appointed Juvenile Advocates, works with the Semper Fi Community Task Force, volunteers with the Special Olympics and American Cancer Society.

Recent Articles

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – A wreck stalled traffic Wednesday on I-565 westbound, near the exit to Glenn Hearn Boulevard, the road to the Huntsville International Airport. It happened around 11:30 a.m. Police say no one was seriously hurt. One westbound lane was closed while wreckers cleared the scene.

FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. (WHNT) – A woman in her seventies wanted more handicapped parking in her living community. She went to property management to ask for it. The woman never saw more accommodations made for her neighbors living with physical challenges. Ann Hedges emailed WHNT News 19 asking the station to take on her fight! Hedges lives in the Fayetteville Square apartment complex. She’s been there for years. She talked with WHNT News 19 in April about how she thought apartment […]

FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. (WHNT) – A Lincoln County couple faces drug charges. Deputies accuse the man and woman of getting too close to meth. The woman is eight-months pregnant. Deputies also found four other surprises. Most people know the results of using meth. Law enforcement representatives post warning signs for those who don’t. Lincoln County deputies think a woman eight-months pregnant and the baby’s father do not care. The sheriff believes Tabitha Northrup and Jimmy Wayne Baker, Jr. not only smoked […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – A Huntsville woman has spent her fair share of time on the internet keeping in touch with her husband. Christi Moore is married to a soldier stationed in Illinois. He’s been there two years. He and Christi have never lived together. SAIC is bringing the couple together for Memorial Day. The crowd was in place. Balloons were set. Banners and flags were in plain view. A wife and daughter waited. All were there to welcome home […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – A Republican with a lot of power in Montgomery has made an ‘about face’ on Medicaid. Representative Steve Clouse now favors the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Clouse was known to support Governor Robert Bentley in opposition of the expansion. Parker Griffith, who’s running for governor, talked with WHNT News 19 about Clouse’s new way of thinking. Griffith wants to be Alabama’s 54th governor. “Because I`ve always spent my career taking care of […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – A homeowner accuses a renter of damaging his home. The homeowner took the renter to court and a judge ruled in his favor. The homeowner is going after the renter’s employer. It seems no one is following the court order. A judge ordered Comcast to pay Robert Shaffer more than a thousand dollars. Comcast employed Shaffer’s renter, Shashone King. Shaffer showed WHNT News 19 around the home where King stayed about a year. Shaffer hasn’t received […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Police are at a wreck at the corner of Jordan Lane and Holmes Avenue. We understand three vehicles were involved in a collision on Holmes, including a pickup truck, a UAH police car and a city shuttle bus. Huntsville Police, Huntsville Fire and HEMSI paramedics are on the scene. Police say the woman driving the UAH police car was taken to a nearby hospital. Seven people were on the bus, but none of them were hurt. The […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – The General Manager of Huntsville’s T.G.I. Friday’s called WHNT News 19 asking for help finding who made a Mother’s Day card. A restaurant server found the original card May 7 stuck between menus at the hostess table. The mother never received it. The manager wants to make sure the mother knows what the little girl did to honor her. The card shows fine details such padded stickers, drawings and personal messages specific to the child’s mother. […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Sarah Palin, arguably one of the most well-known women in the Republican Party in the last several years, is scheduled to visit to Madison County next week. Dr. David Copeland, Madison County Superintendent, confirms to WHNT News 19 Palin will speak at New Hope High School’s graduation ceremony. The event is next Wednesday, May 21 at 8 p.m. at the Von Braun Center. It is an event that requires tickets, Dr. Copeland said. “What an honor […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – The mother of an infant is spending Mother’s Day behind bars. Huntsville Police charged Natasha Townsend with attempted murder. Investigators believe Townsend severely cut her 3-month-old daughter with a butcher knife Saturday night. Police, HEMSI and firefighters found the baby suffering from injuries at a home on Neptune Drive around 10:45 p.m. Saturday. A source told WHNT News 19 the 31-year-old mother bought the knife at a Madison Walmart, cut the baby at another location and […]

MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) – A former Madison County employee has pleaded guilty in a case involving theft and ethics charges. Deborah Kay Sims, 59, was scheduled to go to trial Monday. She pleaded guilty to using her office for personal gain and must pay $154,673 in restitution. Sims worked as the secretary for former Madison County District Three Commissioner Jerry Craig. An investigation into Sims began when the current District Three Commissioner, Eddie Sisk, noticed an irregularity in a […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – It’s been a project months in the making. The Publix at Twickenham Square officially opened for business Wednesday. City leaders and Publix managers cut the ribbon outside Huntsville’s newest grocery store. The store’s manager counted a few hundred people walking aisles since 7:00 Wednesday morning. It appears Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle is not the only person happy to see this new store. Publix Store Manager Chris Sheffield shouted, “Good morning, Huntsville!” “Good morning,” replied a crowd […]